Jet conducts test flight as consortium revives airline after 3 years

Following the insolvency resolution process under India's bankruptcy code, a consortium of UAE- based businessman Murari Lal Jalan and UK-based Kalrock Consortium emerged to be the owner

A Jet Airways aircraft took to the skies again on Thursday after a gap of three years. It was conducting a test flight during which it flew for 1 hour 38 minutes over Hyderabad.

The aircraft was operated by Jet Airways pilots Manav Gupta, Ankush Sharma, and Vishesh Oberoi and flew under the code 9W-101.

On Thursday, the airline's CEO Sanjiv Kapoor said on Twitter that the test flight's operation was a very emotional moment "for all the wonderful folks who have been working hard to get Jet back in the skies".

Incidentally, 29 years ago, Jet operated its flight on May 5. The airline ceased operations in April 2019 due to mounting debt. Following the insolvency resolution process under bankruptcy code, a consortium of UAE- based businessman Murari Lal Jalan and UK-based Kalrock consortium emerged the owner.

The aircraft, which was previously a Jet aircraft and subsequently was inducted by SpiceJet. Early this year, the aircraft was de-commissioned by SpiceJet following which the new management of Jet Airways took the aircraft. Following the test flight, the aircraft flew to Delhi from Hyderabad where it will conduct a proving flight under the inspection of DGCA officials.

This is a mandatory process in order to activate the airline’s license. Proving flights are done to demonstrate the readiness of an operator. Under DGCA laws, Jet will be required to conduct a minimum of five flights on the route they intend to operate.